MADISONVILLE, Ky.—The Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporationtoday announced its 2019 Women’s Conference, themed “Hustle & Heart,” April 11 at theBallard Convention Center at 605 E. Arch St. in Madisonville. Helen Gülgün Bukulmez, aLexington attorney specializing in immigration and personal-injury law and Northern KentuckyUniversity law professor, and Donna Van Eekeren, executive chairman of the board of LandO’Frost, are the scheduled keynote speakers.

Utilizing her more than 20 years of business, law practice and leadership experiences, HelenBukulmez regularly speaks on topics related to entrepreneurialism, business development,wellness, law project management, attorney marketing and technology at local and nationalconventions. Born to Bosnian and Macedonian parents, she was raised in Urla, Izmir, a smallBosnian immigrant town of farmers on the Aegean coast of Turkey. She earned a degree inbusiness and economics from the University of Uludag in Bursa, Turkey, and studiedpsychology at the University of Kentucky. She received her Juris Doctor degree from NKUChase College of Law and is licensed to practice law in Kentucky.

“It is an honor to be invited to share time with the creative, talented, brilliant people ofMadisonville,” Helen Bukulmez said. “It is the exact same hustle and love that takes a youngwoman across the oceans away from anything familiar that keeps her eyes set on success andfinally gives her the life that is better than her dreams. The same care in raising her young childthat also makes her one of the better leaders in her community. The same love for her familythat sets her apart from her competition. The same emotional intelligence that makes her aneffective teacher inspiring the future generations. The same courage that helps her rise aboveeven the internal self-doubt that kept her behind the scenes until just about the time she foundthat her voice was full of purpose, strength and power, no matter how soft and loving it is. Thesame desire to make a difference that makes her have all the fans she could have ever wishedfor. The same realization that being a woman was not (and is not) somehow a weakness but anincredible power to change this world for the better. I look forward to sharing my experience,expertise and love for people while being further inspired by Madisonville.”

Under Donna Van Eekeren’s leadership, Land O’Frost, a family-owned business founded in1958 and headquartered in Lansing, Illinois, grew from being the eighth-best-selling lunchmeatbrand in the United States to its current position of third. In 1991, she assumed the position ofsecretary/treasurer of Land O’Frost; then, in 2001, chairman of the board and chief executiveofficer. She credits the significant increase in Land O’Frost’s market share with redirecting theorganization’s focus to an emphasis on sales and marketing programs aimed at growing theLand O’Frost brand and investing in new product offerings to the retail consumer. To providesufficient capacity to accommodate the growth in business, the company built and operates a190,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility at 3295 Nebo Road in Madisonville.

“As a woman in business, I understand the importance of women coming together to celebrateour achievements and learning from one another about the successes and challenges thatwe’ve faced in our careers,” Donna Van Eekeren said. “I’m honored to take part in this specialevent and look forward to sharing my experiences and hearing from others about how femalebusiness leaders can strengthen each other and thrive both professionally and personally intoday’s world.”

The 2019 Women’s Conference is the fifth annual hosted by the Madisonville-Hopkins CountyEconomic Development Corporation. More than 80 women-owned businesses help fuel theeconomic vitality of our region, and, since 2013, women have accounted for almost exactly halfof the civilian labor force in Hopkins County.

“This conference is annually a great professional networking event and learning opportunity,and we are particularly excited about the two keynote speakers we landed for this year’s event,”said Ray Hagerman, president, Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development. “Also,given the conference’s success in its first four years, we are expanding the schedule andopening vendor space for women-owned businesses to come out and introduce themselves tothe community.”

About the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development CorporationThe Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation(https://www.westcentralky.com) nurtures the region’s economic development by recruitingcommercial enterprises that are new to the area, by strengthening our community’s existingbusinesses and by supporting current and future entrepreneurs. The non-profit corporation,governed by an independent board of directors, is located at the Kentucky Innovation Station at38 W. Arch St. in Madisonville.